Ramadan 2017: The free rice scheme during Ramzan was started by late Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa. (File)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has approved supply of 4,900 tonnes of free rice to some 3,000 mosques in the state during the fasting month of Ramzan starting later this month. The mosques will use the rice to make gruel.
The Tamil Nadu government will spend Rs 12.60 crore to supply free rice, the state government said in a statement. The scheme, well-received by Muslims, was started by late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, the statement said. Subsequently, more people had asked the government for free rice this year too.
Mr Palaniswami has directed officials to approve supply of free rice to mosques, and asked district collectors to verify documents, the Tamil Nadu government said in the statement.
The AIADMK's mouthpiece "Dr Namadhu MGR" in 2015 had said a Pakistani television channel had welcomed the scheme and suggested the free-rice scheme should be implemented in Pakistan too.
"A Pakistan television channel 'SAMAA' has aired a news about chief minister Jayalalithaa's scheme of free rice to make gruel during the holy month of Ramzan and it wanted its government to emulate it," the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's mouthpiece had said.